In a World Pool Championship final for the ages, Carlo Biado took down world no. 1 Fedor Gorst after publicly stating he wanted to face the defending champion for the crown.
Shortly after Carlo Biado had easily dispatched 20-year-old compatriot Bernie Regalario in their semifinal match, he was asked who he preferred to meet in the final of the prestigious 2025 World Pool Championship in Jeddah.
The choices were either another young upstart in 19-year-old Kledio Kaci, who like Regalario was in the midst of a Cinderella run, or the defending champion and world number one Fedor Gorst, currently the best player on the planet and one of the best of all time. At stake was the top prize of $250,000 (around P14 million) and the title of world champion.
Conventional wisdom would have dictated the usual safe, respectful answer, especially coming from a Filipino athlete and considering our culture’s tendency to remain humble. They’re both very good. I don’t have a preference. I’ll just do my best for my country.
He also wouldn’t have been faulted if he had answered Kaci, since between him and Gorst he was the more inexperienced player.
But Biado would have none of that. Without hesitation, he replied with a straight face, “I want Gorst.”
That attitude reflects the mindset of a true champion: to be the best, you have to beat the best. And Carlo Biado has always wanted to be the best.
He’s wanted to be the best pool player in the world since he was 14, when as a golf caddy, he witnessed Efren Reyes win this very tournament in 1999. He soon traded the golf clubs for a cue stick, and 11 years later he won his first major tournament.
Biado captured his first World 9 Ball title in 2017, joining Reyes, Ronnie Alcano, and Django Bustamante as the only Filipinos to do so. But none of those three had ever done what Biado accomplished early Sunday morning: win it twice.
He arrived in Jeddah as one of the favorites, but everyone had their eye on Gorst, the amiable defending champion whose killer smile was overshadowed only by his killer instinct on the pool table.
Both players strolled through the first two rounds and encountered stiff challenge at one point in the knockout rounds, but both still pulled through to set up their inevitable championship clash.
What transpired over the next four-plus hours was sheer drama that brought out the best shotmaking from both players. After splitting the first four racks, Biado took the next seven to take command of the race-to-15 contest. Forced to dig deep, Gorst responded by winning seven in a row as well to knot it back up at 9-9.
Biado kept his composure and waited for the chance to regain control. It happened in the 19th rack, when Gorst fouled on his jump attempt. The Filipino swept the table to regain the lead. He won the next two as well to push it up to 12-9.
On the 13th rack, Biado was put to the test with a difficult layout. He responded with a performance that only the very best could command. Early in the rack, the cue ball was behind the 9, and Biado needed to jump over it to hit the 2. He calmly measured his stroke and not only successfully jumped over the 9, he also potted the 2 in the right hand corner pocket. Not only that, he positioned himself with a clear shot at the 3.
The danger wasn’t over, though. Biado’s preparation on the 7 was less than ideal, and he had to cut it a little more thickly than he had wanted to get to the 8. The result was an almost parallel layout between the cue ball and the 8 near the center of the table.
At this point, the commentators were discussing a safety shot and where he could take both the cue ball and the 8. The position was so awkward that they didn’t think Biado would go for it at this stage in the match and with so much on the line.
“You feel like, with this position, to the left side pocket is pretty big,” said American legend Jeremy Jones on the TV broadcast, referring to a makeable but very difficult bank shot into the corner pocket.
Biado studied the table intently with his trademark blank expression, and he didn’t seem particularly concerned with the layout. He then proceeded to do exactly what Jones described as a “pretty big” shot and absolutely nailed it. The finish line was now within sight.
That whole sequence can be viewed here:
Gorst, though, had one last run in him. He took the next four racks to once again tie it up. The championship was now truly up for grabs. But the pool gods smiled on Biado. Gorst came up with an empty break on the 27th rack, and Biado took advantage and reclaimed the lead for good. He was now on the hill.
Breaking for the championship, Biado successfully pocketed the 1 ball to stay on the table. He had a shot at the 2, but the 3 and 5 were bunched together to provide the biggest obstacle to a run out and $250,000.
Once again, Carlo Biado went for the jugular. He calmly sank the 5 on a combination, and the path to glory was now clear.
After he sank the 9, Biado let out a yell and climbed to the top of the table in a metaphorical move that symbolized he was once again on top of the 9 ball mountain. He was now officially the only Filipino to have won the world 9 ball title twice. And as a bonus, he took home the biggest paycheck of his career.
“I’m over the moon,” Biado said afterwards. “I still can’t believe I’m a two-time World Champion. It means everything to me. I’m so proud to bring this trophy home to the Philippines.”
Gorst, ever the gentleman, was gracious in defeat.
“Runner up at World 9-Ball Championship,” he posted on his official Facebook account. “Big congratulations to my pare Carlo Biado for winning it this year. Always a pleasure to play against you.”
Carlo Biado’s triumph in Jeddah this year was truly the stuff of champions. He boldly called out Gorst because he knew a win over the defending champion would bring more legitimacy to his quest to be the best in the world.
It was an ambitious public statement, but it paid off. As they say, it’s not arrogance if you can back it up.
Banner images from Matchroom Pool